Independence Day marks the end of British rule on 15th August 1947 and the establishment of independent Nation – India, in true sense this independence is not only from the British Rule but from many more external invasion since 12th century. Annual celebration held on 15th August each year as National Holiday across the India and reminds every citizen of India about the new era, struggle for freedom and sacrifice of millions of freedom fighters. On this day, one of the oldest civilization with rich culture and heritage took breathe as independent country after more than 700 years of slavery. The dream of millions of people to become Independent was fulfilled on 15th August 1987, the great revolution and unbelievable fight of general public against the super power and empire.

History, Significance, Key Dates and Event of Indian History & Freedom Fight

From the ancient time, India is known as “Sone Ki Chidiya” thus people across the globe were willing to come to India for various purpose. This includes Persians, Iranians, Mughals, Mongolian and even Alexander also came. Then Portuguese, French and finally Britishers came and rule over India for around 200 years. All these people wanted to rule and looted the India. Many of these got the success in their bad intention and looted India for years. Apart from these they also started destroying our culture, education system and heritage values. This was the ultimate reason for Indian people to start fighting against these invaders and sought for the Independence.

Till the 12th century, various part of India was ruled by various great empire like Maurya, Chalukya, Chola, Pallava etc. by Indians only. Then after 12th century Turks and Mughals attacked on India, established their state sultanate till early 18th century which includes Mahumad Gazni, Babur, Humayu, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb with main motive to looted India and setup their culture and religion over India. During the mid-18th century to mid-19th century East India Company acting as a sovereign power on behalf of the British government cover almost each part of India.

Britishers in form of East India Company had arrived in India in 1619 and had set up their trading posts in Surat, Gujarat.

Then after along with business and trade East India Company had started looking towards the rule of India and battle of Plassey in 1757 plays key role for British to achieved political power in India.

The victory over Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II in 1764 at the Battle of Buxar was another key mark for East India Company.

The British power gained its peak during the mid of the 19th century and almost discontent all the local rulers with all kind of possible deception.

To eliminate the British power, Viplav of 1857 was the key event also famous as the Indian Mutiny of 1857 of First Independence War of India. This was began with a revolt of the military soldiers at Meerut on 10th May and soon became widespread across the India where great leader like Rani Laxmibai, Kunwar Shing, Nana Sahib, Tatya Tope, Bahadur Shah, Jaidayal Singh etc. had participated and posed a grave challenge to the British rule. Unfortunately first attempt of Independence were not succeeded and British had crush it within a year on 20 June 1858

After this war Queen Victoria's Proclamation of November 1, 1858 declared that India would be governed by and in the name of the British Monarch through a Secretary of State and this was the end of East India Company.

Raja Rammohan Roy had founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 with aimed to purge the evil practices of society like sati, child marriage and purdah system etc.

The foundations of the Indian National Movement were laid by Suredranath Banerjee with the formation of Indian Association at Calcutta in 1876 and later on the Indian National Congress was founded in 1885.

The launching of the "Swadeshi Movement" by leaders such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Aurobindo Ghose. In 1909, the British Government announced certain reforms in the structure of Government in India which are known as Morley-Minto Reforms but rejected by leaders and increase the movement of Swaraj lead by Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal etc.

To control the violent activities across the country, Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919, which empowered the Government to put people in jail without trial.

One of the most inhuman act of British Rule was Jalianwala Bagh massacre of April 13, 1919 when the people of Punjab gathered at Jalianwala Bagh, beside the Golden Temple of Amritsar on the auspicious day of Baisakhi to protest peacefully against British Indian Government. But General Dyer ordered his armed police force to fire and hundreds of people dead, including women and children.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi leader of the Congress had started non-violent agitation - 'Satyagraha', against the British Rule. Non-Cooperation Movement was started under guidance of Mahatma Gandhi from September 1920 to February 1922, which was a great success as it got massive encouragement to millions of Indians for Independence.

To cover up all movement in India, the Simon Commission was sent to India in 1927 by the British Government to suggest reforms in the structure of Indian Government. But the commission did not include any Indian member and accept the demand of Swaraj. Thus reforms were protested under the leadership of Lala Lajpat Rai – famous as Sher E Punjab with lot of people peacefully but British ordered lathi charged and intestinally killed the Lala Lajpat Ray.

Civil Disobedience Movement was another key event launched in the Congress Session of December 1929 and lead by Mahatma Gandhi. The aim of this movement was a complete disobedience of the orders of the British Government.

The Salt March, or Salt Satyagraha of Dandi March or Dandi Satyagraha was an act of nonviolent civil disobedience during the 12 March 1930 to 6 April 1930 for 24 days as a direct action campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly where Mahatma Gandhi and other volunteers walk for 240 miles from Sabarmati to Dandi. It was also decided that India would celebrate 26th January as Independence Day all over the country tricolour was hoisted. The British Government tried to stop the movement with firing, killing hundreds of people and also arrested Gandhiji and Jawaharlal Nehru with thousands of people.

After seeing these non-violent movement and torture of British to general public of India, Bhagat Singh decided to fight with weapon in place of Ahinsa – non violent. Thus Bhagat Sinh, Sukhdev and Rajguru killed the John Saunders and also thrown a bomb in the Central Assembly Hall in Delhi to demonstrate against the autocratic alien rule. Unfortunately they great freedom fighter were hanged to death on March 23, 1931 now remember as the Shaheed Diwas .

Another major event was the Quit India Movement lead by Gandhiji in August 1942, 'Do or Die' call to force the British to leave India.

Same as Bhagat Sinh, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose also felt that without war Independence could not achieved and thus organized the Indian National Army (INA) – Azad Hind Fauj in 1942 to overthrow the British from India with the help of Japan. But unfortunately in Japn was defeated in Second world war in 1945. Netaji proceeded from Japan through an aeroplane to a place of safety but met with an accident and died in air crash but yet this story is not accepted by many.

"Give me blood and I shall give you freedom" - was one of the most popular statements of Subhash Chandra Bose .

And finally the moment came, after the Second World War, Britain was not in condition to rule over India and newly formed government of Labour Party in Britain came in to power under Prime Minister Clement Richard Attlee. The Labour Party was in favour of freedom of India and sent the Cabinet Mission to India in March 1946. This cabinet had careful studied the Indian political scenario and proposed the formation of an interim Government. Interim Government was formed and headed by Jawaharlal Nehru but Muslim League refused it and demanded for the separate state of Pakistan. Thus Lord Mountbatten, the Viceroy of India at that time had presented a plan for the division of India into India and Pakistan. The Indian leaders had unwillingly accepted the division, as the Muslim League lead by Muhammad Ali Jinnah was obstinate. This Division – the wrong decision, leads to riots and lot of people were killed and till date the war and tension observed between India and Pakistan.

Thus, India became free at the stroke of midnight, on August 14, 1947, when the world sleeps, India was awake to life and celebrate the freedom.

The Indian national flag - Tiranga, the set of horizontal tricolour of saffron, white and green with Ashok Chakra in centre was approved on July 22nd 1947 and presented to the nation on August 15th 1947 and raised from Lal Killa - Red Fort in Delhi. Saffron or Bhagwa color represents the courage, sacrifice and renunciation, white color present the honesty, truth and purity and green color stands for prosperity, faith, fertility and loyalty. The wheel symbolises Dharma Chakra and continuing progress.

Celebration of Independence Day, India

15th August, Independence day of India is celebrate across the India with great zeal and every Indian across the world feels proud for this auspicious moment. This day is one of the three National holiday of India along with the Republic Day - 26th January and Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti- 2nd Octomber. Prime Minister of India hoists the national flag Red Fort in Delhi in morning and on evening of Independence Day, the President of India delivers the "Address to the Nation". Every school and government offices celebrate this day with various events and hoist the Tiranga – National flag.

What a great day of Indian History. “Happy Independence Day to all the Indians” !!!